The Green Bay Packers have a promising future ahead of them, thanks in part to the 2022 and 2023 NFL Drafts netting them numerous players who are primed to take monumental steps forward in 2024. There is even a great deal of optimism surrounding their 2024 draft class, which will have two representatives in attendance at the NFL Rookie Premiere.
While it is still too early to tell, the general consensus among Packers fans is that general manager Brian Gutekunst had a great draft for the third year in a row.
Gutekunst created tremendous waves around the NFL when he traded up to take Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Of course, this selection was a surprise to everyone, including future Hall of Famer quarterback Aaron Rodgers, whose relationship with the organization was strained as a result.
In the second round that year, Gutekunst selected running back AJ Dillon out of Boston College.
In an interview with Christopher Kuhagen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Dillon revealed that he and Love had actually lived together and became friends before they were selected by the Packers in the 2020 NFL Draft.
They signed with the same sports agency before the draft and became fast friends. Dillon told Kuhagen: “We got to know each other really well. We got a great friendship, started before we became teammates. Came a long ways.”
Their friendship extends beyond the gridiron, too. Love and Dillon have teamed up in the past to participate in charity softball games during the offseason to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America.
It is the goal of every NFL player to win the Super Bowl. For all teams, that should be the goal each and every year. It certainly is in Green Bay.
However, according to what he told Kurhagen, Dillon doesn’t just want to win the Super Bowl for himself. He wants to do it with and for his friend:
“Jordan Love, he’s one of my good friends. I’ve seen his whole process. For me, I want to be there with him, help him out. I want to help go get that ring.
“It’s awesome. I want to be part of it, to be able to experience that with one of my best friends on and off the field.”
In the past, head coach Matt LaFleur has stated several times that he loves how last year’s team played for each other. Dillon took less money than he could have gotten elsewhere to stay in Green Bay because this is where he wants to be; this is where he wants to win.
Green Bay is where his friend is. The Packers hope they'll accomplish the ultimate goal this season and bring the Lombardi Trophy back home where it belongs.
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